After numerous trials on this take on the classic holiday side, nothing beat good old canned soup and frozen green beans for the ease and texture that has made it a special occasion tradition. But this is not your mother’s green bean casserole! Fresh onions, mushrooms, and Marsala wine make […]
Author: Marlene Koch
Any Day Stuffin’ Muffins
Any meal will feel special with these easy-to-make muffins made of stuffing! A quick sauté of fresh vegetables combined with spices and green onion take the taste of packaged stuffing mix to homemade heights. Pack the mix into muffin cups for a fun twist that ensures quick cooking and easy portion […]
Pumpkin Sweet Potato Soup
With just 100 calories per cup, you are going to fall in love with this luscious 30-minute soup made with not one, but two fall all-star ingredients! Every time I make it, I’m amazed at how something so satisfyingly creamy and comforting can be so low in calories, carbs and […]
Heavenly Pumpkin Spice Cake
There are many recipes floating around for this ultra-easy, fool-proof cake, and I think I tried them all! Many use an entire can of pumpkin, but in my trials I found that while this produced a moist cake, it was too dense to be considered heavenly. And recipes that called for less […]
20-Minute Skillet-Roasted Smoky Brussels Sprouts
Smoky sweet Brussels Sprouts in just 20-minutes! Roasting sprouts tones down bitterness and brings out natural sweetness, but it can be a time killer, so instead I use a skillet-fry method to deliver the same result in half the time. A splash of balsamic vinegar and a touch of brown […]
Apple Pie Oatmeal
Put away the packets! One of my favorite breakfast foods growing up was a bowl of oatmeal prepared from instant packets of apples and cinnamon oatmeal. Funny how our palates change, and our fond recollections are not what we once thought. I recently grabbed such a packet to eat on […]
Holiday Doodles
Shhh…there’s no need to tell anyone these have just 1/3 of the usual sugar! With the light scent of nutmeg and a crown of sugar and cinnamon, this is one seriously delicious cookie. My only suggestion – once they are made, keep them out of sight. Otherwise, you may find […]
Harvest Chicken Salad Sandwiches
When served on lettuce, this creamy, crunchy, and deceptively slim chicken salad has only 110 calories, 4 grams of fat and 9 grams of carbohydrate per serving. The Autumn accent comes by the way of fresh apple and dried cranberries. I’ve added celery for crunch, but if calories are less […]
Healthy Weeknight Chicken and Dumplings
When one thinks of Chicken and Dumplings, “healthy” and “quick” do not often come to mind. This recipe changes that! Fresh vegetables, fluffy homemade rosemary scented dumplings (enhanced with a touch of cornmeal), and a creamy full flavor give this stew-like soup Southern style, while using canned broth and cooked […]
Free Form Apple Pie
Packed with sweet slices of apples, and less than 1 teaspoon of added sugar per piece, this apple “pie” is extra sweet to to make—just lay down the crust, top it, and go! I guarantee your guests will ooh and aah. It’s up to you whether or not to tell them […]